Research

Dissertation & Job Market Paper

My dissertation focuses on corporate political activity (CPA) and its relationship to corporate governance and stakeholder interests and will be organized as a three-chapter study. My job market paper encompasses the first and second chapters. 

The first chapter investigates how CPA and firms’ political positioning influence stock analysts’ earnings forecasts under performance decline. I conceptualize political positioning as a form of firm reputation that shapes external pressure on corporate governance to prioritize shareholder value. The second chapter extends this analysis by examining firms’ responses to such pressure through decisions that directly affect stakeholder interests. I explore how political positioning constrains managerial discretion and influences firms’ downsizing announcements, which have significant implications for employees as key stakeholders. The third chapter analyzes how union shareholder activism affects firms’ voluntary disclosure of political spending. This research speaks to the growing interest in political polarization and heightened scrutiny of corporate political engagement. I contribute to the literature by offering an audience-centered perspective on how CPA influences firms and stakeholders. By focusing on the interpretative dimension of CPA, my work moves beyond existing emphases on the ideological preferences of executives and employees, as well as instrumental views of CPA as a tool for regulatory access. 

Publications

Han, K. H., & Benton, R. A. (2025). The Adverse Impact of Accountability Policies: Performance-based Funding, Diversity Outcomes, and Organizational Visibility. Forthcoming, Socio-Economic Review.

Kramer, A., Han, K. H., Kim, Y. K., & Kramer, K. Z. (2024). Inefficiencies and Bias in First Job Placement: The Case of Professional Asian Nationals in the United States. Journal of Industrial Relations, 66(2), 263-290. 

Revise & Resubmit

[Title Blinded for Review: CEO Characteristics and Strategic Decision Making] (1st author; with Sunjin Pak)

— Revise & Resubmit at Journal of Management

[Title Blinded for Review: Union Effects on Firms and Society] (1st author; with Ryan Lamare & Tingting Zhang)

— Revise & Resubmit at Industrial Relations Journal

Working Papers 

The Impact of Corporate Political Activity on Downsizing and Financial Market Assessments

— Job Market Paper (submission planned for Strategic Management Journal, Fall 2025)

Diversity-Social Network Research (4th author; with Hyuntak Roh, Hongseok Oh, & Wookje Sung)

— Preparing for Submission (planned for Fall 2025)

Political Determinants of CDO Adoption (2nd author; with Richard Benton & Eunmi Mun)

— Manuscript Writing (submission planned for Administrative Science Quarterly, Spring 2026)

Crisis Moment and Organizational Effectiveness (2nd author; with Tingting Zhang & Robert Bruno)

— Manuscript Writing (submission planned for ILR Review, Spring 2026)

Shareholder Activism and CPA Disclosure (Dissertation 3rd Chapter)

— Data Collection (submission planned for Organization Science, Fall 2026)

Meta Analysis on HPWS and Employee Well-Being (3rd author; with Amit Kramer & Yin Lee)

— Data Collection (submission planned for Academy of Management Journal, Fall 2026)

Union Political Activity and Policy Liberalism (1st author; with Ryan Lamare)

— Data Collection (submission planned for ILR Review)

Book Chapters & Reports

Han, K. H., Lamare, J. R., & Zhang, T. (2024). The Evolution of Industrial Relations Research Methods: A Review of Key Union Effects Studies From the Late 20th to Early 21st Century. In: Parker, Jane, Donnelly, Noelle, Ressia, Sue and Gavin, Mihajla, (eds.) Field Guide to Researching Employment and Industrial Relations. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK.

Han, K. H., Zhang, T., & Bruno, R. (2024). Union Representation During a Pandemic: The Case of K-12 School COVID Protocols, Public Health and Individual Autonomy. Project for Middle Class Renewal.